Redback

I studied the blue 'T' when it was in Street Machine and IIRC it has very very small drum brakes.

The T was registered as a stocker before Rod rebiult it.  Since model Ts didn't come with front brakes and the chassis remains relatively stock (all the hot rod stuff is bolted on) there was no need to add them.   As for the '55 Chev, yes it was legally registered but with plenty of strings attached, just like any other odball or non ADR compliant vehicles like tractors, road graders and forklift trucks.  There's no separate or special rules for Rod, he just goes the extra mile to find how to register what' he's building and anybody else can achieve the same, all ya gotta do is make the effort..